Matt Vogt - 316 Health Insurance

08/28/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/health-insurance-101-how-actually-understand-your-plan-matthew-vogt-mpn0c

08/28/2026

💡 Premium vs. Deductible: What Are You Really Paying For?

When you're comparing health insurance plans, it's easy to focus on one number:

“How much is the monthly premium?”

But that's only part of the story.

Your premium is what you pay each month to keep your health insurance in force.

Your deductible is generally what you pay toward covered services before your plan begins paying according to its benefits.

So a plan with a lower monthly premium isn't automatically the better deal.

You also need to consider:

✅ Premium: What will I pay every month?
✅ Deductible: What could I have to pay before the plan starts sharing more of the cost?
✅ Copays & coinsurance: What will I pay when I actually use my coverage?
✅ Out-of-pocket maximum: What's my potential financial exposure in a bad year?

The goal isn't necessarily to find the lowest premium.

The goal is to find coverage that makes sense for your health, your budget, and your financial risk.

That's where having someone help you compare the whole picture can make a difference.

Have questions about your health insurance? Ask Matt.

08/26/2026

Ask Matt: Why can't I just buy health insurance whenever I want?

It seems like a simple question:

“If I need health insurance, why can't I just buy it?”

The answer is that most health insurance plans have specific enrollment periods.

Why?

Because if people could wait until they were sick, injured, or facing a major medical expense before buying coverage, the insurance system wouldn't work the way it's designed to.

For most individual health insurance, you generally enroll during Open Enrollment or after a qualifying life event—such as losing other coverage, getting married, having a baby, or certain other major changes in your circumstances.

That's why waiting until you need insurance can be a costly mistake.

The better approach?

Don't wait until something happens.

Review your options before you need them.

At 316 Health Insurance, we help people understand what options may be available, what their coverage actually does, and what to consider before making a decision.

Have a health insurance question? Ask Matt.

08/19/2026

3 Things You Should Know Before Choosing a Health Plan

Don’t choose a health plan based on the monthly premium alone. The cheapest plan can sometimes cost you MORE when you actually need care.

Here are 3 things to look at before you enroll:

1️⃣ Know your REAL out-of-pocket exposure
Don’t just look at the deductible. Check the out-of-pocket maximum, copays, coinsurance, and what you could realistically pay in a bad year.

2️⃣ Make sure your doctors & prescriptions are covered
A plan can look great on paper—but if your doctor is out of network or your medications aren’t covered the way you expect, you may end up paying much more.

3️⃣ Understand what the plan DOESN’T cover
Pay attention to exclusions, limitations, waiting periods, networks, and how the plan handles major medical events. “Covered” doesn’t always mean “paid in full.”

💡 The right health plan isn’t necessarily the plan with the lowest premium. It’s the plan that fits your health needs, budget, and risk tolerance.

That’s where having someone help you compare the options can make a big difference.

Have questions about your current coverage? Send me a message. I’ll help you understand what you’re actually paying for.

08/12/2026

Ask Matt: What are the penalties or risks of being uninsured?

Being uninsured isn’t just about paying a monthly premium—or not paying one.

The bigger risk is what happens when the unexpected occurs:

💰 Financial Risk: One accident or major illness can create thousands of dollars in medical bills.

⚠️ Limited Options: Waiting until you’re sick to look for coverage may leave you with fewer choices and higher costs.

🏥 Delayed Care: Without coverage, people may put off care they need, allowing small problems to become bigger ones.

📋 Tax & Coverage Rules: Depending on your situation and where you live, there may be tax or coverage-related consequences to consider.

The good news? You don't have to figure it out alone.

Have a health insurance question? Ask Matt! I can help you understand your options and find a strategy that fits your situation.

📩 Send me a message or drop your question in the comments.

08/07/2026

Checkout the latest blog on back to school preparedness!

Back-to-school season means new teachers, new schedules, sports practices, school supplies—and plenty of things for parents to keep track of. Health insurance probably isn't at the top of your list.

08/07/2026

“My employer plan is automatically my best option.”

Are you sure? 🤔

Just because your employer offers health insurance doesn’t mean it’s automatically the best option for you and your family.

Your employer plan might be the right choice—but it’s worth comparing before you assume it is.

Things like:
💰 Your monthly premium
🏥 Deductible & out-of-pocket maximum
👨‍👩‍👧 Family coverage costs
💊 Prescription coverage
📋 Provider networks
📈 Your household income and available options

can all change the answer.

The biggest mistake is assuming you only have one choice.

My job as your health insurance advisor isn't to tell you what coverage to buy. It's to help you understand your options and determine what makes the most sense for your situation.

Before you automatically enroll in your employer's plan, let's compare your options.

📩 Message me for a no-pressure coverage review.

Matt Vogt | 316 Health Insurance
Helping families make sense of the messy business of health insurance.

07/20/2026

🏀⚾⚽🏐 YOUR CHILD PLAYS SPORTS. WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY GET HURT?

Youth sports come with more than registration fees, equipment costs, and travel expenses.

They can also come with unexpected medical bills.

An accident policy may help provide cash benefits directly to you if your child suffers a covered injury—helping offset eligible out-of-pocket costs and other financial expenses.

And if an injury means your child can no longer participate for the season, that money could help offset the registration fees and other expenses you’ve already paid.

🏥 Protecting your child’s health is the priority.

💰 Protecting your family’s financial assets matters too.

Before the next season starts, ask yourself:

“If my child gets injured playing sports, are we financially prepared for the unexpected?”

📩 Message me or schedule a coverage review to learn more about accident coverage options for youth athletes.

Matt Vogt | 316 Health Insurance
Helping families protect what matters most.

07/15/2026

💼 "I already have health insurance through work... why would I need supplemental coverage?"

It's one of the most common questions I hear.

The truth is, having health insurance doesn't always mean you're financially protected.

Most employer health plans still leave you responsible for:
🏥 High deductibles
💰 Coinsurance and copays
🚑 Ambulance bills
💼 Lost income while you're recovering
🩺 Out-of-pocket costs that add up after a serious accident or illness

That's where supplemental insurance comes in.

Unlike traditional health insurance, many supplemental plans pay cash benefits directly to YOU when a covered event occurs. You decide how to use the money:
✔️ Medical bills
✔️ Mortgage or rent
✔️ Groceries
✔️ Childcare
✔️ Everyday expenses while you're unable to work

Even if your employer provides great health insurance, a supplemental plan can help protect your savings from the unexpected.

The goal isn't to replace your health insurance—it's to help fill the financial gaps it leaves behind.

📅 If you're unsure whether your current coverage leaves you exposed, I'd be happy to review it with you. There's no cost and no obligation.

📲 Send me a message or schedule a time to talk. Let's make sure your coverage is working as hard as you are.

07/11/2026

Some people are paying with cash for medical procedures rather than file insurance claims, here's why https://www.investigatetv.com/2026/01/08/some-patients-are-choosing-self-pay-alternatives-medical-insurance/